Commerce City Urban Renewal Authority Purchase Former Mile High Greyhound Park for $3.3 million

The Commerce City Urban Renewal Authority (URA) announced the purchase of the former Mile High Greyhound Park, a 65-acre site located in historic Commerce City and is bounded by 64th Avenue to the north, 62nd Avenue to the south, Holly Street to the east and Dahlia Street to the west.

The URA, with Goldberg Properties acting on its behalf, closed on the property for $3.3 million on Aug. 2. On Aug. 1, a $4 million loan was appropriated by city council to the URA to facilitate this purchase. The URA accepted the loan and authorized the executive director to use these funds for facilitating development within the URA.

A series of community meetings are scheduled to begin this September as part of the URA-led planning process. Through these forums, which will last through November, the authority aims to identify community, nonprofit and business goals, needs and challenges for the redevelopment site.

A finalized strategic plan, including conceptual designs, land use diagrams, a market study, compatibility with neighborhood character, and a financial pro forma, is scheduled to be shared by May 2012. A Request for Proposal would then be issued, based on market conditions, to implement the plan. Input during the community forums is encouraged.

What are your thoughts on the event... Leave comments below.

109 comments:

Anonymous said...

The things we can do with other peoples money.

pro city 2.0 said...

Again, Congratulations to Commerce City and the Commerce City Urban Renewal Authority! This is great news.

Irene, CC said...

So no more "Dog Tracks" in cc! This is a good thing. Seems really high price for something that has been sitting dead for so long. But Hey, No More "Dog Tracks" in cc!

Anonymous said...

this is really good news. Back in the 70s people used to say Commerce City is Dog Track and Smoke Stack.

Looks like those days are over.

Really Good News!

Dustin, Gateway News said...

More information about the event...

Commerce City at this point in time is not considering "blighting" the property.

The site was on the market for the asking price of $5.5 million.

Most likely the existing building on the site will be torn down.

The Dog Track closed in 2008, most likely there will not being a gambling facility to replace it.

Archer said...

who will pay for the demolishing of the building?

dkeys said...

So is Commerce City going to use the tax payers money to buy the old ACHS site too?

Archer said...

so no word on if a hospital will build there? I still think a hospital would be ideal!

GOP in CC said...

I guess I will be the first to say it. We all know it is coming. Why not just let the private sector work this out? Why did the government have to get involved?

Curious in Reunion said...

Will this area have the same philosophy as the newlands, DEVELOPMENT WILL HAVE TO PAY ITS OWN WAY?

Archer said...

What is the water situation like? City get water with this deal?

Dustin, Gateway News said...

Archer,
I did ask that very questions. Did the city get any ERUs with the purchase. I can not remember what the answer was. So I will get that information today.

resident here by choice! said...

FIRST THING COMMERCE CITY SHOULD DO IS TAKE DOWN THE "DOG TRACK SECOND RIGHT" SIGN OFF OF HIGHWAY I-270!

I am 100% behind this. Best news I have heard in a long, long time!

A Proud Republican said...

I assume the URA loan plus interest burden would be passed off to the developer? Making this a even more expensive venture?
I see this city project sitting well past May of 2012.
Gov. will learn to keep their nose out of private sector.
This all come have been done by private business transactions.
All Commerce City did was 'add value' to it with the tax payers money.

Ollie said...

I am happy for the residents around the dog race track. I do wish cc could have spent some money in the north for a rec center. They are renewing things in the south. We didn't even get a chance to be new the first time.

Hyde said...

URA aka Commerce City paid $50,770 per acre? I bet those dog track guys are just tickled pink, laughing all the way to the bank!

Cheo, Commerce City said...

Sometimes you have to think of things in the terms of what is best for the city and not all about money.

I am for this 100% too. This is not an investment. It is a kick start to a hurting area of the city.

Anonymous said...

This should be a greyhound memorial

Sammy in the Newlands said...

was it the best idea to invest in something that is right next to a struggling shopping center. I do think an expensive study will be done, thank you again tax payers. The reality of getting someone to come is just not in the cards.

Erin NW said...

GN,
Does URA pay the property tax on this old dog track, or are they tax exempt?

Archer said...

did cc council practice the flag sequence?

Zeek said...

Old Mile High Racing Dog Track should be redeveloped into a little Mexico type area.

A Mexican Mecca theme.

King of Olive Street said...

Getting rid of dog track is a big redefining moment for Commerce City!

King of Olive Street said...

those of you n the north may not realize that getting rid of the dog track in commerce city is a big deal. A historical day in commerce city.

BOR said...

Got to hope this "redevelopment" goes smoother then the Derby "redevelopment".

Bud said...

GOOD! Maybe someone can do something about the weeds in the once was parking lot! Looks like hell!

Anonymous said...

What else could $4 million dollars be used for? This was not on the list of the long term capital projects. Do they even have any kind of a plan? And the city paid too much money for this, way too much money.

Anonymous said...

It should be made into a greyhound memorial.

Dustin, Gateway News said...

The URA members are the same as the Commerce City Council. They will be renewed as the council changes.

Anonymous said...

still nothing in the north...worthless #@$%ing city

Anonymous said...

So the City bought something that absolutely no one else was interested in for a good price so the City could control what gets built some day in the very distant future - what is all the fanfare about? Westminster did this with the old mall - why are the most simple things always made out to be groundbreaking and earth shattering? Someday soon the City will claim they invented the formula for ice and then have a press conference about it.

Anonymous said...

I am confused about this Dog Track thing. The press made it sound like the area will be redeveloped very soon. If it was that great of a site ready for redevelopment so soon why did the owners sell it so cheap? What are the new businesses and what type of housing are going to be built? I am very surprised there is that much interest to build something on that site when the Victory Crossing and Derby can't attract any new business? this doesn't make sense why is it such a great deal - I would like that 4 million to build the park in my neighbor that the City has a had a sign that says "future park" for years now?

Dazed and Confused in River Run said...

So very confused. Was it not possible to create the URA without out right buying the place? Isn't this just like the IGA in the north?

Why not work with the owners and propose that city creates a URA and help them sell and develop it. Not just out right give them 3+ million dollars so they can skip town.

I see this nothing more then another corporate bail out by government. Bad thing is it at a local level.

Joseph in Commerce City said...

I really hope the URA takes in consideration of the huge Hispanic population that reside in this area when the are planning what will go there.

Mary O., Brighton said...

This was worth EVERY PENNY to stop the cruel act of Dog Racing. GOOD FOR YOU COMMERCE CITY!

S.J. said...

Why not just make it all affordable housing. Always hear that people are hurting so bad. Lets do something about it.

Jasmine, Commerce City said...

Mary O.
I am with you 100%. Breaks my heart knowing that these greyhounds were treated this way all in the name of gambling.

Good for you Commerce City.

Anonymous said...

At 65 acres, this is one of the Denver region’s largest urban renewal projects in recent years.

Way to go Commerce City!

Yuri said...

gn,
picture is great. did commerce city council break out in song and dance?

So sad! said...

I say we all try to get a positive spin on this!

These are the comments from 9 news on this exact story.

http://www.9news.com/comments/211538/75/Commerce-City-to-take-on-65-acre-urban-renewal-project

They need to start from scratch and bulldoze that entire dump of a smelly city.

Commerce City doesn't need anymore houses that go into foreclosure, like the ones in north Commerce City. We need a hospital, decent healthcare options. Not more shopping and cracker boxes.

With the Reunion neighborhood and the newer ones close by on the West side, Commerce City should be getting a decent tax base to help with projects like this. My husband and I just moved into our house that we had built near Reunion and I am very impressed with CC's current building and development codes.

Rumor has it that the Reunion area will be breaking away from CC to become a new city - Reunion so maybe that tax base won't help CC afterall.

unless you get rid of the gangs and the riff raff you will never renew that area, sorry.

commerce city SUCKS! i work in commerce city... every morning i leave my happy home in littleton, where people take care of the community and travel to commerce city! i smell this sh!t hole before i even see it!!!!!

last week i saw to mexican gals unload a truck full of used tires... no, not in the proper place.. but on the side of the road! down the road from where i work! they just stopped, got in the back of the truck and tossed out 8-10 tires onto the side of the road! what the hell!?!?!? now i have to pass a pile of tires as i come and go! i['m not picking them up, and the locals put them there...

then there is the 7-11.... every now and then i get brave and run up to the 7-11 for something to drink.... nothing like standing in a store in america with 12 people who do not speak english! then there was the time i had to use the bathroom while i was there!!! :0... i left my keys in there... a gent quickly went in before i realized i left them in there... 25 friggen minutes later he comes out... dirty bastid was smoking weed in the bathroom! i had to wait for this cat to finish his doobie before i could collect me keys..

i hate this place! >:/

That city would be better served by door-to-door ICE sweeps.

Richmond Homes is salivating at the thought of bought off CC council members approving side by side Monopoly houses built by Mexican nationals out of junk cheap material we see all over town. These things are hilarious...put up in 2 months. You could pass gas and hear it next door...not that you would smell it since you live by the refinery.

keep the dog track, demolish the city.

Dazed and Confused in River Run said...

yes those are really bad comments. I still stand by my thought that Commerce City should have been in a more supportive role instead of a bail out role.

pro city 2.0 said...

It will take time, but Commerce City will be re-defined.

They will all see, when this area is a jewel in our crown.

Don't let comments from Channel 9 get you all down.

Besides, Channel 4 is much better channel anyhow!

BOR said...

Commerce City going to hire Kemp Will and Dana Crawford for this, like Derby?
That was successful, right?

Anonymous said...

Comments on 9 news are Sad!
It will be great, they will all see!

BOR said...

In case commerce city wants to hire Dana again for this Dog Park
http://www.danacrawford.net/home.html

Erin NW said...

I think Commerce City should name the area so everyone stops calling it the "dog Park"

Dwight, Brighton Colorado said...

Before the Commerce City Council and Commerce City Staff tweet about the channel 9 story, they might want to look at what comments are being left on 9 news story.

Promote it? Just because they let your city manager Jerry talk for 30 seconds?

Too Funny!

JoannS. Reunion said...

Council wants community input on the VISION of the dog track or the REALITY of the dog track?

Archer said...

I would have been more impressed if URA took a loan out from a bank with a 4% interest rate.

A loan from the tax payers is not really a loan. If they default on it, what is the worse that can happen? The city will punish the URA by taking over the property?

Get it?

In the Know said...

I beleive the reason why this was on the market for 5.5 million was because they were trying to sell it as a gambling joint. URA got it for 3.3 million because first no one wanted it (all gambling is done in the mountains) and second, all Commerce City is going to do is plow it all done and start over again.
No doubt Commerce City hand the upper hand. They should have pushed for 2 million as a starting point. Or maybe they did?

Anonymous said...

Wait, only 4% loan from Commerce City to Commerce City URA? that is higher then the City Manager loan for his house Commerce City Council gave him?
Now that is not fair!
Commerce City Manager gets a better loan rate then the Commerce City citizens?
WTF?

End Note: Commerce City Council, don't bash Brighton anymore.

Vikki, Commerce City said...

Channel 9 comments are really bad. I guess people need to tear us down to make themselves feel better.

Anonymous said...

I wish Jean Klein could have seen this. She would have been happy.

x said...

Commerce City already owns real estate, a golf course/restaurant.
This that paying its own way?

I agree, URA should have been more of a supportive role, not a corporate bail out.

Vikki, Commerce City said...

Commerce City Urban Renewal Authority, Why not call it C-CURA instead of URA,
C-CURA like (See a Cure)

Dustin, Gateway News said...

The URA acquired approximately 6.44 ERUs of SACWSD water credits with the purchase of Former Mile High Greyhound Park.

Core Comments said...

I saw the comments on the 9 news website. But what would you have us do? Nothing? We need to ignore those negative people and concentrate on making this the best city in the metro area.

Archer said...

Did Commerce City do a credit check on the URA before they gave them the loan?

Anonymous said...

Have to question the timing of all of this.

Have to wonder why the hell Commerce City would do this at the end of the council terms.

Why not wait until the new council comes on to see if they even wanted to take this on.

Instead they are dumping this on a new council and will sit back and just laugh.

Almost like a last stab on the way out of office.

Monica Quinn, CC said...

Oh my God. Why did CM Jerry go on a news channel that would have these types of comments! click on the replies too to see what people are saying about Commerce City!

http://www.9news.com/comments/211538/346/Commerce-City-to-take-on-65-acre-urban-renewal-project

Unitas said...

rate CC should have given URA is 4.375 percent

Anonymous said...

What is silly is that Flannery makes it out to be that HE negotiated such a great deal for a place that no one else obviously wanted for re-development at a cut rate price- WHOO HOO! you are impressive Mr. Flannery. The other problem is that there is no interest in re-developing it - OR THE ORIGINAL OWNERS WOULD HAVE DONE IT OR SOLD IT AT A HIGHER PRICE TO SOME OTHER ENTITY THAT WANTED TO REDEVELOP it. MR. Flannery and his staff also seem to make it sound like re-development will be happening right after the plan is done - this is misleading and wrong and if you haven't figured it out yet he is trying to make himself look good to keep his Hi paying job with countless high paid assistants and his almost free house and cars - and he wants to cost us tax payers even more money to do it - wake up people!

Anonymous said...

Monica and others remarking about negative comments.
They happen here on this blog all the time.
Some people cannot be satisfied with anything.
If someone else bought the land and put in a event center like Mile High events used to be, or a night club both of which would have been noisy and brought tons of traffic...everyone would have said the city should have done something.
Westminster bought out the old mall and the comments here were positive and people complained that CC doesn't do something similiar.
Lakewood did the same thing with Bel Mar and people here remarked on it being a wonderful decision.
Never, never happy.

Anonymous said...

For some that think the city should "work with the owners that are there,
" keep in mind of the rule
"use by right"
That could have tied the hands of the council, to get something that would NOT have been in the city residents best interest.
I think this is the best solution to make sure we don't get a bunch of crap that would have been BIG problems to those who live in the area.
Thank you council, for looking ahead!

Archer said...

Sounds like Commerce City did this to keep another gambling facility from coming?

We know that would never happen, since the dog track failed back in 2008. Lets all remember the gambling in the mountains ruined the gambling down here.

So that brings up the next question, what are we so scared of, what business would come and utilize their "use by right"?

What is so bad that a government needed to spend 4 million?

Yuri said...

Lakewood Bel Mar and Commerce City Dog track projects are not even in the same ball park.

If Commerce City gets the business like Bel Mar did (Target, Whole Foods, Best Buy, PF Changs, etc.) I would be shocked!

In the Know said...

Lakewood was a success because at the end it was able to attract a lot of strong house hold name businesses. Lakewood was able to do all of this in a economic down turn.

Wes, Northern Range said...

I am interested in what an example would be of "to get something that would NOT have been in the city residents best interest."

Anonymous said...

NASCAR at the old Dog Track?

via email said...

Unlike some, I have a cooler head about this.

BUT, it looks like it will cost around $1.2 Million to dismantle Commerce City's Dog track. This is a estimated based off the Denver Post Article on the two tracks that went under (Loveland and Commerce City)

My question is, who and who's money will be used to do this?

Anonymous said...

Just what we don't need is more low income housing projects to cater to and attract even more low income residents in an area that is known for poverty.

Let's try to get something besides another Mexican restaurant or Mexican themed development. We already have that with Plaze de Mexico!

I would love to see something like the Northfield shops - with shopping, diverse restaurants and entertainment. How about bowling or some other type of family entertainment?

Afraid no hospital facilities as we are "too close" to Denver, Brighton and Thornton hospitals.

Anonymous said...

face it, south commerce city is mexican and the majority of it's residents are spanish speaking illegal immigrants. look at sd14 and city communication.

Close to the Situation said...

fact is the city is pretty much clueless about what to do with the area. Why else would they ask for public input?

What they needed to do, is let the business community work it out. The market will always dictate what will go when and where.

Can't believe Commerce City dumped a bunch of tax payers money into this.

Also, your right a "green" dismantle will cost a little bit more them a million dollars.

Who is going to pay for this?

Anonymous said...

In the know:
Again YOU don't know. Your timing is off. Bel Mar WAS NOT done during the economic down turn> It was planned, put in place started and nearly complete BEFORE the economy fell.
Close to the situation:
You prove the point that people are never satisfied.
You scream for public input and now complain about public input.
I imagine that there really are people more in the KNOW and CLOSE to the SITUATION that really have a handle on this.

In the Know said...

Bel Mar: Target/Best Buy/Staples were all during the downturn.
Target and Best Buy were just recently.
Facts and the facts.

Estelle Remington said...

On Aug. 8th, city council voted unanimously for Ordinance 1866 Amending 2011 Budget and transferring funds from the Emergency Ordinance Unencombered Fund balance to the General fund declaring the purchase of the Dog Track as an emergency. And, that's how a city with no money gets these things done! This means that the five new city council members and/or new city manager will need to handle all the details of how to utilize this new purchase. The City Manager wants to hold forums or meetings to find out what residents living here want to do with this area. That means that majority immigrants living in that area have the same input that citizen voters do. Remember, this is all taxpayer's money. My feeling is that citizen voters should have the final say. Whatever, we eventually do will increase the Quality of Life for area residents and therefore benefit the majority immigrants. It looks like the North is on hold,again and even, if, we vote in more Northern council members that 4 million is already committed to the Core City. Sounds like Pioneer Park all over again.

Anonymous said...

Stop with the Hospital idea! It is NOT happening. No matter how much you wish it, it ain't happening!

Cheo, Commerce City said...

Estelle,
I wish you could point to any study that shows that Core Commerce City is all illegal immigrants. Where is this coming from? How do you know?

Hyde said...

Fund balance to the General fund declaring the purchase of the Dog Track as an emergency.
What was the hurry? Was there someone else interested in buying it?
I thought it sat on the market for 3 and 1/2 years?

GOP in CC said...

absolutely no doubt in my mind that this council and staff are all nothing but a bunch of democrats.

Close to the Situation said...

GN,
Is the funding to demolish the old dog track going to come from URA funds? Or is this going to fall on the mystery developer?

Close to the Situation said...

You say: "I imagine that there really are people more in the KNOW and CLOSE to the SITUATION that really have a handle on this."

Well, I am tired of imagining. I am tired of imagining that Walmart is coming to tower. I am tired of imagining that a boys and girls club will ever come. I am tired of imagining that we are the best city in the metro area and everything in happy and bright.

But that is what you get, when you hire a lobbyist as a city manager.

pro city 2.0 said...

Some people will never be happy. It is human nature. All you have to do is just ignore them.

City was looking as this as AN INVESTMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wes, Northern Range said...

I assume the city will hire a consultant for this. Can you find out who this will be?

Anonymous said...

I say the city shocks everyone and NOT hire a consultant. Do this all in house.

GOP in CC said...

URA did not buy this. It was the tax payers that did. Just so we are all clear.

Anonymous said...

Gateway,
Can you get the numbers mentioned at last Monday council referencing the monies spent on Parks and Rec in the north and south.
I'd love to see the numbers, maybe where they were spent too.
thanks-

Anonymous said...

I just went to a site about Bel Mar, to answer the questions I had.
It is 104 acres. Dog track 65 I think.
The ground breaking was 8 yrs ago (2003).
Which means the purchase, planning and developement no doubt started a few years before.
I don't know, but surmize that the contracts for many of the businesses were made at that time or shortly after ground breaking.
The website was written in 2005 and says it is a work in progress.
The economy tanked in 2007.
Everything has to start somewhere.
I am tired of the eyesore the Dog Track is and hope it changes for the better.

Anonymous said...

You have to stop thinking of this as a business deal. This is a investment in the future of the city.

Anonymous said...

I expect a city to take control of a area that needs desperate attention.

Andrew said...

with the federal government fumbling around. It is nice to see a local government actually take control.
Good Job Commerce City!

Chuck, cc said...

Commerce City URA should sell the seats to the old dog track. I know a lot of people who would buy them!

Kyle said...

I like the seat selling idea.
My question, is how much it costs to do a non-green dismantle?

Maybe that would be significantly less money.

Estelle Remington said...

Cheo, About two weeks ago, Laura Bauer said that we have 20,000 registered voters out of a 45,000+ population. And that in the last election we had about 18% of these registered voters actually cast their vote. Which means that about 3600 of these registered voters actually vote. There is no way to know an actual count of immigration here in CC, but, given previous statistics one can guess about 15,000. No matter what we do with the Dog Track it will benefit residents of CC. However, my feeling is that this should be decided on by voters.

BOR said...

question is, how many were illegal out of the 18%?

James Scott, Republican in CC said...

The minute Commerce City stops thinking like a business will be the minute that we get into another kronke deal. A big money sucking hole that did not bring ANY economic development to the area. All it became was the swing set in the backyard of Stapleton, Go Play and then come back home to spend your tax dollars back in Denver.

Also, bel mar was mall before. NOT a dog track next to a refinery. NOT the same thing.

Commerce City may think they do not want to blight the area, but in time that option will start looking more like a good idea.

Don't sell the seats of the old Dog Track, I say give the URA members each one. At least someone will get something out of this ridiculous deal.

Anonymous said...

I can see Reunion becoming a city. It even has a page on Wikipedia. it says it's kind of part of commerce
"It is located within the city limits of Commerce City. The community utilizes fire from the South Adams County Fire Protection District and police protection of Commerce City. All public schools are part of the Brighton 27J School System."

yeah, don't sound like 2 cities to me either.

Anonymous said...

Only thing holding Reunion to Commerce City is the police and trash?
We already have our own GID.
Someday it might happen.

Only time will tell.

Core Comments said...

Reunion does NOT have the tax base to support itself. Still very much a bedroom community.

You are Commerce City, Accept it or move out.

Belle Creek Obsever said...

How did the dog track become such a Republican/Democrat issue?

Mirrors the political climate today.

Such a strong split between the two parties, it is leaking into local level.

Anonymous said...

I'm a Republican and I support the city's purchase of the Dog Track.
Not everyone see's things the same.

Anonymous said...

Just a rumor?

Commerce City will name the dog track area "Mystery Crossings"?

King of Olive Street said...

Major mistake for government to get involved in real estate to compete with private enterprise.

It didn't work for ACSD 14, they are still sitting on Ag Zoned land by Gala Gardens.

A Proud Republican, cc said...

City should only be providing safety and services.
Not getting involved in real estate deals.
Because the city shielded the city manager from the tanked housing market in AZ, can we expect the Commerce City council to do this in Aug. when the city manager needs to pay back the city for the 450K loan.
Maybe we should do a appraisal on the house in Reunion and then give him another discount, Since we did this for him in AZ.

pro city 2.0 said...

The decision to acquire the dog racing track was a good thing for Commerce City.

Ginger, My 2 cents said...

URA decision to buy the old dog track is a good thing?
That is a great statement, now back it up with something, tell me why.

I see it as URA sitting on it with a big cost study. Lets be honest, the Derby Study did not really do what it was suppose to. Can council really say that they are happy about what is going on in Derby?

URA owns the Dog Track, why would anyone even think of coming until the building is gone. What would that cost be? Around a million? URA only has $700,000 left. They still have to pay a consultant to come in and do the study.

I see this in the future as nothing but a big money pit. As it has been for the previous owners for the past 4 years.

URA will have to get money from somewhere? Forget grants, so that leaves the city.

Concerns me that the "worse case scenario" was not thought out by council. Also, surprises me that the whole council went along with this.

I get the city is not a business and this not about money. That is a good stance to take. But, only when you are stable. After hearing last nights meeting, I don't think that is the case. Timing is off. Not to mention this happening at the tail end of 5 URA members leaving, dumping this on the new members as a big headache.

Anonymous said...

Many years ago the area around the dog park was looked at by a consultant for a new city hall. The problem then and still is access to the area. Look at all the streets and interchanges that will need to be changed and upgraded at a huge expense. What about asbestos and the demolition of the site- major bucks. Let's learn from Wheat Ridge. $30,000,000later- no Cabela's or any increase in revenues. Me- I think the dog park owners are laughing all the way to the bank.

Anonymous said...

Some great input.
Why aren't some of you running for council? I say because it is much easier to sit, talk and point fingers.
You're ideas will never be held accountable to you because you aren't putting yourselves where you mouths are.
I don't pretend to know the answers.
All I know is I don't want the dog track to end up being a public nuicance to all who live close.

Estelle Remington said...

You do not have to run for council to have input into the Dog track development. There will be several residential meetings at the Rec Center. Check for date and times.